Price of donated eggs now subject of legal battle

New York

ON their websites, next to glossy pictures of babies, some fertility clinics and egg donor agencies refer to eggs as a "priceless gift" from caring young women who want to help people with fertility problems. There is a price tag for eggs, though, and it is now the subject of a legal battle.

In a federal lawsuit, a group of women are challenging industry guidelines which say that it is "inappropriate" to pay a woman more than US$10,000 for her eggs. The women say the US$10,000 limit amounts to illegal price-fixing, and point out that there is no price restriction on the sale of human sperm. A federal judge has certified the claim as a class action, which will most likely go to trial next year.